TWO BAPTISMS

“For I do not want you to be unaware brethren that our fathers were all under the cloud and all passed through the sea; and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea.” 1Cor. 10:1, 2.

Perry Stone makes mention of the fact that Israel went through two baptisms in their Exodus out of Egypt. First they were baptized in the water of the Red Sea and then they were baptized in the cloud. One baptism was of earthly origin while the other baptism was of heavenly origin.

This point must not be lost to us, for it is one that is carried over into the New Testament church. The baptism into the Red Sea corresponds to our baptism in water which is also called John’s baptism. But the baptism in the cloud refers to our baptism in the Holy Spirit such as we received at Pentecost.

Some churches teach that there is only one baptism that occurs when we are born again and baptized in water. But we find that this is most definitely not the case. In fact we find this issue brought up in Acts 19.

“And it came about that while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper country to Ephesus and found some disciples, and he said to them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed? And they said to him, “No, we have not even heard whether there is a Holy Spirit.” And he said, “Into what then were you baptized? And they said, “Into John’s Baptism.” And Paul said, “John baptized with a baptism of repentance telling the people to believe in Him who was coming after him, that is Jesus.” And when they heard this they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. And when Paul laid hands upon them they began speaking with tongues and prophesying and there were in all about twelve men.” Acts 19:1-7

In large portions of the church today, Christians are baptized with John’s baptism after which no one bothers to ask them if they were also baptized in the Holy Spirit, much less if they showed it by speaking in tongues and prophesying. But we must remember that even John said at the Jordon River; “He who sent me to baptize in water said to me, ‘He upon whom you see the Spirit descending and remaining upon Him, this is the one who baptizes in the Holy Spirit.” John 1:33b.

Jesus gathered his disciples together and told them to wait for the promise of the Father and He further commented saying: “John baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.” Acts 1: 5… and yet much of the church rejects the fact that there are two baptisms and while it is important to be baptized in water for repentance of sin, it is also equally important to be baptized in the Holy Spirit for this is the baptism of Jesus.

Jesus left His disciples with this parting message: “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria and even to the remotest part of the earth.” Acts 1:8

Is it possible that much of the church cannot do the works of Christ in the world simply because they have refused to receive the baptism of Christ which is with the Holy Spirit and fire?

As always, this problem was demonstrated physically in the exodus of Israel out of Egypt. They had no problem following the instruction of Moses to eat the whole lamb and to put the blood on the doorposts of their homes. They had no problem with passing through the Red Sea. But when they came to Mt. Sinai and the mountain began to shake with the presence of God, they backed away in fear and told Moses to go up for them… and therein religion was born, for instead of being filled with the Holy Spirit they settled for John’s baptism in the Red Sea and set up Moses, a man, to be their intercessor.

So they were given a law on stone which they could not keep because the Law can only be fulfilled in those who walk not according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. Romans 8:4.

So here we are at the end of the age and the church is poised to bring in the final harvest under latter rain power, but how can we do so if our doctrines and traditions won’t allow us to go beyond the baptism of John? Yes, we were baptized in the name of Jesus, but unless we also receive His baptism of the Holy Spirit and fire, we will not be able to do His work in the world.

Israel came to the borders of the Promised Land, and yet they turned around and spent 40 more years in the wilderness and we must pray that we will not do the same.

Receiving the Baptism of the Holy Spirit is risky business. The onlookers on the day of Pentecost thought they were drunk… but 3000 souls came to the Lord that day and we need to seek God for His power to do His work in His way so that we can enter the Promised Land and the marriage supper of the lamb.

I think EJ might have been right in his comment about the feast days corresponding to various denominations. It appears that each denomination has some piece of the puzzle to bring to the table. We need to learn from each other rather than to stand behind our barricades with our guns drawn over every little, twist of doctrine. But one thing is certain. We must be baptized with the Holy Spirit and with fire if we are to bring in the harvest. Selah.